Well , it's a LOT to take in....If I had heard this news about 20 - 25 years ago , I'd be jumping for joy. When CDs came in , I did'nt oppose them , per se , until people were so willing to give up on LPs , entirely , without a fight. I did'nt have a CD player until about 1992 (And I got it at a yard sale !) , but , by then , I accepted it as just another medium , one that had it's pros , as well ax it's cons. It did'nt drastically affect my purchasing vinyl , or even cassettes. But , in time , I got used to it , and stopped trying to fight it (However, I still buy more records than CDs , today.). What I did'nt like then , or now , is being told we don't have freedom of choice. I generally don't bother with MP3s. I have had an ipod for several years (Won it in a costume contest at a Los Straitjackets show. Otherwise , I probably would'nt have one.) , I guess , like almost everybody , but , I've generally burned , transferred , whatever , tracks that friends have sent me , or on friends' bands' websites. Otherwise, I just have CDs that I put there ..... I'm not a slave to my ipod. In fact , I'm kind of tired of it. I take it with me , when I go out , once in a while , but , lately , if I'm walking or taking the train , I'll bring something to read (And usually be the only person with an actual book or magazine on the bus or train. I LIKE the internet , but , I use it about a 1/3RD AS MUCH AS THE AVERAGE JOE , AND I'M STILL TRYING TO CUT BACK.....The thought of no REAL books , magazines or newspapers makes me want to vomit , but , people should have access to what they prefer.) , or , I'll take my Walkman and a few cassettes. Yes. What the Hell , I still have 'em . A Duracell AA battery lasts for weeks , sometimes months. My freshly charged Ipod might survive two hours. Also , I'm less likely to get pushed down a flight of stairs in the train station for a Walkman , or just have my earphones yanked off , and the tape player taken out of my hands , by force . I don't know if these things are happening to Ipod owners in Omaha . They're happening here. Someone asked about 8 Tracks , I had 'em , we all had 'em in the 70's and very early 80's ( I still used 'em , because they were selling for 50 cents at a time when Michael Jackson , inexplicably , sold Billions with an effort so bland , even Vincent Price could'nt save it from it's own plasticity. Also , I was in college , and did'nt have a big music budget.) ..... I still have some 8 Tracks , now. Why ? Because they're hilarious !
Anyway , I've been hearing and reading about vinyl , and even cassettes , making a comeback . Maybe not a HUGE one , but enough to keep some stores in business , and even some new stores , purveying a medium that was pronounced dead before The MP3 was even introduced. But , the irony is , it's the independents that are keeping this stuff going , and even seeing a profit , more recently (Not all of them , of course.). The idea of a mainstream record and/or CD store , well , I can't name one , can you guys ?
Special edition CDs , special packaging , that's cool , but that's something the industry shouldhave considered 15 years ago , or so. I got suckered in by a special packaging of the new Motorhead CD , with a hardbound , booklike cover , a Mojo or Uncut size magazine , a two - sided poster , and a metal Motorhead pin , for about 6 or 7 dollars more than the CD in a plain plastic jewelcase , and maybe two , three pages of liners . I thought it was pretty damn sweet , but , I could have , should have , seen the same thing when Grunge was still "King" . Of course , there's the simple fact that these changes stand to put small businesses , as well as major corporations , out of business. I was'nt happy when Tower Records went tis - up , but , I'm more concerned about local small business. Not because I'm a goddamned tree - hugger, but , because music sounds better that way.
